Turkish Airlines will increase its services between Birmingham and Istanbul to twice daily later this year.

The company has announced it will move from 12 flights a week to double daily from May 30, offering more than 600 extra seats a week from the West Midlands.

Starting with five services to Istanbul in December 2008, Turkish Airlines later increased the number of flights in January 2012 to seven weekly departures.

Later that year, it increased to ten departures per week and in December 2014 the airport announced the programme would grow to 12 weekly flights.

Selim Ozturk, general manager for Turkish Airlines in Birmingham, said: "Birmingham Airport is a hugely successful base for us and we have grown significantly over the past eight years.

"This double daily announcement gives passengers even more choice and, with 283 onward destinations via Istanbul throughout the Middle East, the Far East and Africa, Birmingham Airport really is the gateway to the world with our award winning airline."

Initially, flights will increase to 13 per week from the March 27 and then to double daily from the end of May.

"Starting eight years ago, the service has gone from strength to strength carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers.

"The Turkish Airlines in-flight product is award winning and extremely popular which is demonstrated by more and more people choosing to experience the service, reliability and affordability it offers.

"I congratulate the Turkish Airlines team on doing a great job here in the region and increasing passenger numbers year-on-year, and for further committing to Birmingham Airport."